Chrysanthemum plant named `Yvette`

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Yvette particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; anemone capitulum type with a small anemone cushion; white ray floret color with yellow anemone cushion; diameter across face of capitulum of 29 to 35 mm when fully opened, when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; very floriferous with excellent display of many small flowers; photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 50 to 57 days; plant height with 15 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings prior to start of short days and with 0 to 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 18 to 23 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot; small dark green foliage; branching pattern is spreading and prolific, each plant having 5 to 8 laterals after pinch; and recommended as a spray pot mum.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Yvette.

Yvette, identified as 4680 (89-195001), was originated from a cross madeby Cornelis P. VandenBerg in a controlled breeding program in Salinas,Calif., in 1989.

The female parent of Yvette was an unnamed seedling, identified as86-669007, and described as a coral-pink spray pot mum with a flatcapitulum form; anemone capitulum type with a small anemone cushion;diameter of capitulum of 38 to 50 mm; flowering response to short daysof 48 to 56 days; plant height of 20 to 30 cm when grown as a pinchedspray pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot, with 15 to 23 long daysafter sticking unrooted cuttings prior to start of short days and 1 to 2applications of 2500 ppm B9 SP; and a spreading and prolific branchingpattern, with 4 to 6 branches developing per plant after pinch. Thefemale parent was discarded from all programs in June 1991.

The male parent of Yvette was an unnamed seedling, identified as86-664003, and described as a flat daisy spray pot mum with a yellow rayfloret color; diameter of capitulum of 41 to 51 mm; flowering responseto short days of 48 to 54 days under normal conditions; plant height of23 to 28 cm with 15 to 16 long days after sticking unrooted cuttingsprior to start of short days and 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP;and a spreading and prolific branching pattern, with 5 to 7 breaksdeveloping per plant after pinch. The male parent was discarded from allprograms in August 1989.

Yvette was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in Apr. 1990, in acontrolled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Yvette was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in Jun. 1990in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by technicians workingunder supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Yvette are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Yvette has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Yvette, which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form. 2. Anemone capitulum type with a small anemonecushion.

3. White ray floret color with yellow anemone cushion.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 29 to 35 mm when fully opened,when grown as a pinched spray pot mum.

5. Very floriferous with excellent display of many small flowers.

6. Photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 50 to 57 days.

7. Plant height, with 15 long days after sticking unrooted cuttingsprior to start of short days and with 0 to 1 applications of 2500 ppmB-9 SP, ranges from 18 to 23 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4cuttings in a 15 cm pot.

8. Small dark green foliage.

9. Branching pattern is spreading and prolific, each plant having 5 to 8laterals after pinch.

10. Recommended as spray pot mum.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Yvette, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Yvette grown as a pinched spray pot mumwith 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Yvette.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Yvette at 3 stages of development (mature,intermediate and immature).

In sheets 2 and 3, a measuring tape in centimeters has been added.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Yvette is the commercially available but unpatentedcultivar identified as Celeste. Reference is made to attached Chart A,which compares certain characteristics of Yvette to the samecharacteristics of Celeste.

The branching pattern of both cultivars is similar. Ray floret color ofboth cultivars is white, with Celeste showing a slight pinking of theunderside of the ray florets. The flowering response to short days ofboth cultivars is in the same range, with Celeste having a slightlyfaster flowering response in some flowering trails. Yvette has a smallanemone cushion, while Celeste has a daisy capitulum type. Yvette alsohas a smaller diameter of capitulum and a shorter plant height whencompared with Celeste.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart. The clear white color ofthe ray florets of Yvette is not represented in the R.H.S. Colour Chart.The color values were determined on plant material grown as a pinchedspray pot mum in Salinas, Calif. on Aug. 5, 1994.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cm Yvette.

Commercial.--Anemone spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Anemone with small cushion.

Diameter across face.--29 to 35 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters). White.

Color (upper surface).--Clear white.

Color (under surface).--Clear white.

Shape.--straight, flat. Apex rounded.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--12A.

Color (immature).--12A, overlaid with 144C.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--18 to 23 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum in a 15 cm pot with15 long days after direct sticking unrooted cuttings and 0 to 1application of 2500 ppm B-9 SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific, with 5 to 8 laterals afterpinch.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed and slightly serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        CHARACTERISTICS                                                                             YVETTE        CELESTE                                           ______________________________________                                        Ray floret color                                                                            White with yellow                                                                           White with slight                                               cushion       pink underside                                    Capitulum form and                                                                          Flat anemone  Flat daisy                                        type                                                                          Diameter across face                                                                        29 to 35 mm   38 to 48 mm                                       of capitulum                                                                  Flowering response                                                                          50 to 57 days 47 to 57 days                                     Plant height with                                                                           18 to 23 cm   20 to 28 cm                                       14 to 17 long days                                                            Branching pattern                                                                           Spreading     Spreading                                                       5 to 8 laterals                                                                             5 to 8 laterals                                   COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                           PINCHED SPRAY POT MUMS IN                                                     SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                                           ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Yvette, asdescribed and illustrated.